Basics played a key part in Bristol victory - Dyche

Chris Boden

Clarets boss Sean Dyche felt his side’s application of the basics was key in the 2-1 win at Bristol City.

Burnley went into the international break with a second-successive win, courtesy of first half headers from Ben Mee and Michael Keane, both from David Jones corners.

I thought they were excellent for the first half an hour and arguably should have been in front

Sean Dyche

It lifted the Clarets into ninth place, level on points with sixth, in the embryonic league table, and Dyche, asked what pleased him most about the performance, said: “I think the fact that we applied ourselves to the basics because we didn’t play well in the first half.

“I thought they were excellent for the first half an hour and arguably should have been in front.

“But the basics that we provide the team with is the tactical shape and the understanding of how they work as a unit, it kept us in the game and we nicked two very good set pieces against the feel of the game really.

“They’d had a couple of really good chances that I remember and a couple of maybes.

“You get to half-time and you’re 2-0 up you’re thankful for that really, so a lot of credit to them.

“In the second half we calmed the game down without being fluid. We were solid and organised and we got a foothold in the game. We changed it tactically at half-time and that just slowed them down a little bit.

“Overall I think with the second half performance I think we deserved to take the win.

“The referee added a minute on just to let them nick one at the end!”

Burnley are still searching for that fluidity with new faces in the side, however, and Dyche admitted: “There’s been no lack of confidence. People forget we’ve lost very important players and we’ve brought some players in who we think we’ll grow in to be very important players.

“It takes time for that team to gel together. We’re still tinkering with it, we’re still looking at the options because we’ve had a lot more than we’ve had for a while.

“It takes time for them to find their pattern and their fluid play and we haven’t had that yet, and yet we’re sitting in a pretty healthy position.

“Overall I’m pleased with the fact that the basics can get us through a game but we know there’s got to be a brighter future with our actual play and the way we deliver with the ball than that.

“But there has been a lot of changes and a lot of work to be done on the training field.

“In the international window the players will get some fitness work as well.”

There was a debut for £6m man Andre Gray, roundly booed by the home fans after turning down a move to Ashton Gate.

Dyche said: “I thought he did fine. I thought the crowd were a little bit over the top but that can happen.

“He’s had a very disrupted pre-season so he’s going to get fitter and he’ll get more used to our players.

“Overall he showed some sharp touches and nice movement and he’ll get used to how we work.”

On the rough ride he received from the home fans, he added: “There’s no big drama over it, but I thought it was a little bit harsh because players have to make decisions about their careers.

“I think he’s made a good one in joining us. That’s nothing against Bristol City who are a fine club.”